Manual/Tutorial (Help needed)

[olmania]

There are so many things that could be improved in the manual, and we'll need all your help as well. There are a few problems while updating the manual.
1) Time: my time is very limited, and time used for something somebody else can do is not used for things only I can do.
2) We don't know all the details how the game works. This requires some shared knowledge by all of us. Code sometimes helps, but doesn't always help due to its complexity and the nature of software

My suggestion would be, if some of you want to help here, to:
- create the manual / FAQ in a Word, OpenOffice or PDF document
- to support the creation of the manual, have a chat (e.g. WhatsApp) to share information about features we're not sure about
- I can additionally support with information from the code

Once it's done or at least improved, we can take it over in-game. Another step would be translations of the manual.

Maybe a shared document with one page/tab with restricted access (so only one or a few could update what's written there; that is going to be the final version). Collab work on tabs made for that in that document. and synthesis done by a few in a restricted access tab (but all can read it ofc - to review in chat) ?
chat is a good idea for that too; but I guess it's not easy to find a tool everybody is using ?

[Radunion]

Could we just use some online editor and hope for creative chaos when everybody is allowed to edit?

[Robyklebt]

1) Time: my time is very limited, and time used for something somebody else can do is not used for things only I can do.

Nobody is actually asking YOU to re-write the manual, but see below

2) We don't know all the details how the game works. This requires some shared knowledge by all of us. Code sometimes helps, but doesn't always help due to its complexity and the nature of software

But what you know is when some things change. And if those are not announced, then you're the only one that knows. THAT is one of the problems here. See this change in D6 market, you mentioned that en passant in the general chat after somebody couldn't find the rider he was looking for anymore and somebody else gave him outdated information. That's exactly the thing that should be posted in the forum, so that everybody who cares knows. And then the volunteers who feel ready to write stuff down, can find it there and know what the rules are. In cases that it's old rules and you're not sure... you actually profited from Hansa and others who remember. Why do they remember? Because Buhmann always told us pretty exactly what he was doing. So you could find it somewher, you still can. But not for new stuff now. Because the information doesn't trickle down to the forum anymore. Result: Nobody knows how things are or should be anymore. That's why , to come back to point 1, you have to find the time to post what you did in the forum.

- to support the creation of the manual, have a chat (e.g. WhatsApp) to share information about features we're not sure about

Another chat, what's wrong with the forum? Whoever writes something in his document and doesn't know something might as well just ask in the forum... maybe somebody that isn't involved knows, remembers. Use the resources you have. Ok, maybe you don't want some code public, no problem, add that WhatsApp chat for that, or work by PN, carrier pigeons... but why have a chat somewhere for everything when you could use the forum with its advantages?

[ATB - Racing]

Could we just use some online editor and hope for creative chaos when everybody is allowed to edit?

sounds reasonable, at least we can give it a try.

[TDM_Luxembourg]

Could we just use some online editor and hope for creative chaos when everybody is allowed to edit?

sounds reasonable, at least we can give it a try.

+1

[Alkworld]

Could we just use some online editor and hope for creative chaos when everybody is allowed to edit?

Anything specific you're thinking of? Something like a Google document or what did you think of?

Another chat, what's wrong with the forum? Whoever writes something in his document and doesn't know something might as well just ask in the forum... maybe somebody that isn't involved knows, remembers. Use the resources you have. Ok, maybe you don't want some code public, no problem, add that WhatsApp chat for that, or work by PN, carrier pigeons... but why have a chat somewhere for everything when you could use the forum with its advantages?

Sometimes, a combination of various channels is good.
I like chats for quick answers for more specific topics, as many of us have it with us most of the time. We e.g. have a WhatsApp group for quick questions about admin and development topics.
Forum is good for a general overview, longer and complex discussions. But e.g. I only use it at home, not while away or at work, so reaction times are way slower.